Annala Round Barn, Hurley Wisconsin

Date added: August 24, 2023 Categories: Wisconsin Barn Round Barn
Barn and milkhouse (1978)

The Annala Round Barn and Milkhouse, built in 1917-21 and circa 1928, respectively, is a rare example of fieldstone construction applied to the once popular round barn style of architecture.

In 1902, Matthew Annala, one of the five original Finnish families to settle in rural Hurley, homesteaded the land where the barn is located. Like most of the Finnish immigrants who came to northern Wisconsin between 1890 and 1910, Annala settled there with the goal of farming the cutover stump left from logging days. In doing so he helped form a thriving Finnish enclave that later became Oma ("our home") Township.

A carpenter and mason by trade, Annala had built several area structures, including the Oma School, which now serves as the Oma Town Hall. Early he discovered that the cutover lands were unsuitable for agriculture since the growing season was too short, the soil was thick with red clay, and the fields were littered with glacial boulders. Thus, Annala, like others, switched his attention to dairy farming.

Annala had taken a farm tour with Gogebic County, Michigan farmers in about 1917 to explore alternative farming techniques. According to his daughter, Mildred, he had been impressed with the round barns he had seen in east central Wisconsin, and decided to build one for his dairy farm. It is uncertain which barns he visited on the tour.

During the early 1900s, the University of Illinois Agricultural Station had widely promoted circular barn types, particularly in southern Wisconsin. According to the promotion, the round barns were more efficient to run, less costly to construct and more resistant to wind pressures. Numerous such barns were built throughout the state. University bulletins were circulated with detailed plans of round barns, one of which (Barn #2, 60 feet in diameter and designed by H.E. Croguch circa 1910) closely resembles the Annala barn in plan and fenestration.

Whatever his influences, Annala was fearful of the destructive powers of tornadoes. He was also keenly aware of the abundant local building materials, so he decided to build his round barn of field stones. With the assistance of neighbors and a few of his sons, he constructed the 24-inch thick stone walls, using little mortar but relying instead on the mason's skill in fitting the multi-colored rubble together. This process allowed the walls to be raised in a free-standing manner, as the stones were carefully selected for tight binding. The stonework was excellently fitted to resist water, wind and weather, and allows a full appreciation of the various colors, shapes and textures of the stone.

There are few round stone barns remaining in this country and none other known in Wisconsin. A round stone barn 86 feet in diameter was built in 1826 by the Shakers in Hancock, Massachusetts. In addition to a center haymow, it has space for 52 cows, more than twice that of the Annala barn. Most of Wisconsin's round barns were constructed of wood, although many have fieldstone foundations and silos.

After Annala's barn was completed many farm tours included visits there to observe the workings of a round barn. However, no other area farmers copied either the barn's style or plan.

"It was a good conversation piece," agreed Andy Bednar, the Gogebic County Extension Director for 30 years, "but from a practical standpoint it wasn't considered a good investment. The farmers were curious but not serious." Dairy herds were expanding in size and round barns did not provide for additions. Also, while feeding was aided by a central hay chute, its tighter spaces were confining. "Besides," Bednar continued, "the farmers liked to have corners to store junk in."

The fieldstone milk house and ramp were built about 1928 and 1943, respectively. Once the milk house was finished, fresh milk was piped there to be bottled for shipping to area markets. Annala had planned to fashion a milk bottle form out of the cobblestone chimney, but for some reason only completed two-thirds of it.

During World War II the Annalas delivered their own milk, although they discontinued the bottling process in the mid-1940s. The barn continued to be used for dairy purposes until 1973 when the farm was sold. All of the original stalls are intact, as well as much of the milking equipment. The present owner uses the barn for storage, but is interested in maintaining the barn and milk house in their present forms.

Building Description

Situated near the Montreal River, the Annala Round Barn is a 60-foot tall circular building of fieldstone construction. Sixty feet wide, the two-story barn's 24-inch rubble walls are topped by an asphalt-covered gambrel roof that is in poor condition. The roof is capped by a round vented cupola with wooden louvers. Circling the first level are sixteen 2/2 windows with fieldstone segmental arched lintels. There are four similar windows spaced equally on the second level. A 40-foot-long ramp of fieldstone construction (built circa 1943) leads to the second level double-door entrance.

The second level haymow, which held 100 tons of loose hay, is open to the roof. A structural clay tile center silo was built circa 1938. The roof has a drum and hoop support system formed of hemlock rafters, with a circular opening for the raised vented cupola. The original cedar shingled roof was covered in 1943. Two dozen metal cow stalls and stanchions encircle the first level's white-painted fieldstone silo. This portion of the silo is original; the second story extension was added later. Although unused, much of the piping for the milking machinery is still in place. Pens for the bull and calves are located beneath the ramp, extending out from the first level.

A 15-foot tall circular fieldstone milkhouse is located next to the barn. It was built circa 1928. A tooled half-round mortar bead is applied over the stone joints and the interior walls are plastered. The asphalt conical roof rests on a concrete plate and is topped by a cobblestone chimney that was to have resembled a milk bottle although it was never finished. An earlier concrete roof collapsed in 1963.

Annala Round Barn, Hurley Wisconsin Barn and milkhouse (1978)
Barn and milkhouse (1978)

Annala Round Barn, Hurley Wisconsin Barn interior (1978)
Barn interior (1978)

Annala Round Barn, Hurley Wisconsin Barn interior showing top of silo (1978)
Barn interior showing top of silo (1978)